{"id":1999434,"date":"2025-09-05T14:22:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T14:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1999434"},"modified":"2025-09-05T14:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T14:22:32","slug":"haywires-larky-take-on-the-birth-of-the-archers-lacks-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/haywires-larky-take-on-the-birth-of-the-archers-lacks-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"Haywire\u2019s larky take on the birth of The Archers lacks drama"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There\u2019s much to recommend in Tim Stimpson\u2019s theatrical love-letter to <em>The Archers<\/em>, born in Cirencester\u2019s Barn ahead of the 75th anniversary of the world\u2019s longest-running radio drama next year. At its best, like the hallowed \u201ceveryday story of country folk\u201d itself, this madcap recap of the programme\u2019s early days and its subsequent attempts to insinuate change over the decades, combines dollops of information with welcome comedy and insights into human behaviour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Whenever the evening dwells on the specifics of the show\u2019s genesis, complete with behind-the-scenes antics and on-air highlights, it\u2019s a total delight. Yet when it cuts to its contemporary framing device \u2013 we\u2019re watching the studio recording of a radio homage to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/radio\/what-to-listen-to\/radio-column\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Archers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"><em>The Archers<\/em><\/a>, called <em>Inventing Ambridge<\/em>, and witness clashing actorly egos and crazed producer ambition between-takes \u2013 it loses momentum, even as the haywire mayhem ramps up.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>\u2018Actors play fictional actors who, in turn, are playing bygone actors playing Archers characters \u2013 it\u2019s too much\u2019<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Yes, Stimpson, a regular writer for <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/radio\/what-to-listen-to\/radio-4-the-archers-podcast-bbc-review\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Archers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"><em>The Archers<\/em><\/a>, thereby satirically contrasts the self-involvement of today\u2019s actors with the more self-effacing nature of the early players. And yes, the breaking in and out of character and, in effect, time-jumping (which necessitates swift role-switching and accent-shifting) boldly blurs fictional boundaries, animates the scene, and puts Joseph O\u2019Malley\u2019s impressive cast of seven through their paces. But in dodging plodding conventionality, Stimpson courts frisky overload. You\u2019ve got actors playing fictional actors who, in turn, are playing bygone actors playing <em>Archers <\/em>characters; it\u2019s too much.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The piece is on surest ground when depicting the initial brainwave of Godfrey Baseley (played by Kieran Brown), the Midlands-based BBC producer of agricultural programming, for a drama serial on the subject of farming. There\u2019s a collective frisson when he first hails Arthur Wood\u2019s <em>Barwick Green<\/em> as the right fit for the theme music (\u201cIt\u2019s a pint of ale on a warm summer\u2019s evening!\u201d).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"'Haywire puts Joseph O'Malley's impressive cast of seven through their paces': The cast of Haywire at the Barn Theatre\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/dDhrDAWpLVvlykLJ3BWhtQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_telegraph_258\/5934dc42f273c223ac93061f01ccb775\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>\u2018Haywire puts Joseph O\u2019Malley\u2019s impressive cast of seven through their paces\u2019: The cast of Haywire at the Barn Theatre<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It\u2019s magic, again, when cast-members assemble round a mic and lip-sync to the actual debut 1951 episode, a spotlight shining on a radio-adjacent armchair to denote an enthralled nation. Power-battles as ratings soared; the pressure on the cast to keep \u201cin character\u201d in public; gripes over pay \u2013 all this grips. I also loved the DIY sounds achieved by a spot-effect artist (Geebs Marie Williams).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I wanted more, though, on how characters evolved and the writers worked. For all the hard-won ingenuity of the meta-theatrical frills, surely it\u2019d be better to follow <em>The Archers<\/em>\u2019 own trim example: the inclusion here of the shock death of Grace Archer in 1955 is a perfect reminder to any playwright that, to grab attention, it pays to kill your darlings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Until Oct 11. Tickets: <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"http:\/\/barntheatre.org.uk\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:barntheatre.org.uk;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"><em>barntheatre.org.uk<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/customer\/subscribe\/01doysa\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><b>Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s much to recommend in Tim Stimpson\u2019s theatrical love-letter to The Archers, born in Cirencester\u2019s Barn ahead of the 75th anniversary of the world\u2019s longest-running radio drama next year. At its best, like the hallowed \u201ceveryday story of country folk\u201d itself, this madcap recap of the programme\u2019s early days and its subsequent attempts to insinuate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1999435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[362996,362994,362995,362993],"class_list":["post-1999434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-haywire","tag-kieran-brown","tag-radio-drama","tag-tim-stimpson"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Haywires-larky-take-on-the-birth-of-The-Archers-lacks.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1999434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1999434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1999434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1999435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1999434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1999434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1999434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}